Electrical clamp and combination clamp latch and contact device



May 14, 1957 Filed Nov. l5, 1954 R. E. KOCH 2,792,472 ELECTRICAL CLAMP AND COMBINATION CLAMP LATCH AND CONTACT DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 14, 1957 R. E. KOCH 2,792,472

ELECTRICAL CLAMP AND COMBINATION CLAMP LATCH AND CONTACT DEVICE Filed NOV. l5, 1954 2 SheetS--Shee'fl 2 ELECTRICAL CLAMP AND COMBINATIDN CLAMP LATCH AND CONTACT DEVICE Robert E. Koch, Pittsfield, Mass., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application November 15, 1954, Serial No. 463,717 6 Claims. (Cl. 20G-133) This invention relates to an electrical clamp and a combination clamp, latch, and contact device, and more particularly, to an electrical clamp and a combination electrical terminal clamp, door latch, and terminal contact device usable in fuse cutouts of the enclosed type.

One well known form of enclosed type cutout comprises an upright box-like electrical insulating material housing closed by an electrical insulating material door. The door is pivoted at its lower end to the lower end of the housing. Mounted on the inside of the door is an electrical insulating material fuse tube. The fuse tube has upper and lower metallic electrical contacts thereon and disposed within the fuse tube is a fuse link electrically connected at its opposite ends to the fuse tube contacts. Disposed within the rear of the housing are upper and lower metallic electrical terminal contacts. When the door is hinged closed the upper and lower fuse tube contacts will engage the upper and lower terminal contacts respectively whereby an electrical circuit will be completed between the upper and lower terminal contacts via the fuse link. ln order to hold the door closed a latch means is provided. Also, the housing side walls have holes formed therein adjacent to the upper and lower terminal contacts whereby electrical conductors or line leads can be inserted therethrough into the vicinity of the upper and lower terminal contacts. The line leads are electrically connected to the terminal contacts by virtue of terminal clamps which in turn are electrically connected to the terminal contacts. In some forms of said enclosed type cutout the function of terminal clamping, door latching, and fuse tube contacting are performed by a separate terminal clamp, door latch, and terminal contacts. Such construction results in a complex cutout without maximum utilization of the available space within the housing interior.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a compact, uncomplicated, low cost, and easily assembled combination clamp, latch, and Contact device.

My invention comprises a compact, uncomplicated, low cost, and easily assembled combination clamp, latch and contact device useful in an enclosed type cutout for performing the function of clamping the line leads of said cutout, latching the door of said cutout, and contacting the fuse tube of said cutout. However, as will be more obvious hereinafter, my invention is useful in electrical apparatus other than enclosed type cutouts.

As was discussed heretofore, the housing side walls have apertures formed therein whereby a pair of line leads may be inserted therethrough into the vicinity of the upper and lower terminals for connection to terminal clamps. It will be appreciated that enclosed type cutouts are conventionally suspended from the crossarms of electrical pole lines and that it is very desirable for a lineman to be able to connect the line leads to the terminal clamps with a minimum number of manual operations.

Accordingly, it is a further object of this invention to provide a terminal clamp whereby an electrical conductor can be connected thereto with a minimum number of manual operations.

aired States Patent O Additionally, due to the present high cost and relative difficulty of obtaining good grade copper conductors the use of aluminum electrical conductors is becoming more widespread inthe electrical industry. However, aluminum electrical conductors tend to cold flow when subjected to clamping pressures so it is very desirable to provide means for compensating for the decrease in clamping pressure and attendant looseness of an aluminum conductor in a terminal clamp connection as a result of said cold flow.

In the event said last mentioned electrical conduc-tor is constructed out of aluminum subject to cold flow under clamping pressures, it is a further object of this invention to provide in said last mentioned terminal clamp means for ensuring a tight mechanical and electrical connection between said aluminum electrical conductor and terminal clamp despite said cold ow.

My invention further comprises a low cost, uncomplicated, easily assembled terminal clamp having a free floating clamping shoe.

ivi y invention further comprises a terminal clamp having a clamping plate portion and a free floating clamping shoe retaining plate portion disposed opposite to each other in spaced relationship, a free floating clamping shoe disposed between said plate portions comprising a U-s'naped member having its legs converging towards each other, said converging legs embracing opposite side edges of said retaining plate portion, the endmost portions of said legs spaced from each other by a distance less 'than the distance between said side edges.

My invention further comprises a low cost, uncomplicated, easiiy assembled terminal clamp having a free floating clamping shoe having spring follow-up means integrally incorporated therein.

My invention further comprises a terminal clamp having a clamping plate portion and a free floating clamping shoe retaining plate portion disposed opposite to` each other in spaced relationship, a free floating clamping shoe disposed between said plate portions comprising a U- shaped member having its legs converging towards each other, said converging legs embracing opposite side edges of said retaining plate portion, the endmost portions of said legs spaced from each other by a distance less than the distance between said side edges, a pair of threaded members extending through a pair of threaded apertures adjacent said side edges whereby inward movement of said threaded members causes movement of the base of said U-shaped member towards said clamping plate, the base of said U-shaped member being slightly bowed towards said clamping plate.

The features of my invention which I believe to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure l is a partly broken away side elevation View of a preferred form of my invention. Figure 2 is a sectional View of said preferred form of my invention taken along the line 2 2 of Figure l. Figure 3 is a sectional view of said preferred form of my invention taken along the line 3-3 of Figure l. Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of said preferred form of my invention. Figure 5 is a front elevation view of said preferred form of my .invention when viewed in the direction of arrow 5 of Figure l. Like reference numerals will be used throughout the various figures to indicate identical parts.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures l to 3, shown therein is one form of my invention when used in an enclosed fuse cutout of the non-dropout type. The cutout comprises a porcelain or other electrical insulating material box-like housing 1 closed by an electrical insulating material door 2. The lower end of door 2 has a metallic hinge member 3 thereon. Hinge member 3 is hooked on to a pair of trunnions 4, only one of which is shown, whereby the door 2 can be hinged open and closed with respect to the housing 1. Mounted on the door 2 is an electrical insulating material fuse tube 5 having an upper metallic wedge-shaped contact 5. Also, mounted on the fuse tube 5 adiacent to the lower end thereof is a lower metallic wedge-shaped contact 7. A fuse link 8 is disposed within the fuse tube 5 and electrically connected at its upper end to the upper fuse tube contact 6 and at its lower end to the metallic hinge member 3. integrally projecting from the inner surface of door 2 are a pair of electrical linsulatingV material latching proiections 9 disposed on opposite sides of the fuse tube 5.

Disposed within the upper end of housing 1 and connected to the rear wall thereof as by cementing or the like is an upper combination terminal clamp, door latch, and terminal contact device. Said upper combination device comprises a pair of metallic latc'ning iingers 10 adapted to make latching engagement with latching pro jections 9, and a pair of metallic lloating Contact shoes il disposed with respect to each other in a V-shaped manner for engaging the upper fuse tube contact 6. Said upper combination device also comprises a terminal clamp indicated generally by the reference numeral 12 for clamping the end ot an electrical conductor or line lead 13. As seen more clearly from 1figure 2, the side wall of the housing 1 has a pair of apertures 14 formed therein opposite to the terminal clamp 12 whereby the electrical conductor or line lead 13 may be inserted through either one of apertures 14 for electrical connection to the terminal clamp 12.

Disposed within the lower end of housing 1 opposite to the lower fuse tube contact 7 and connected to the rear wall of housing 1 as by cement or the like is a lower combination terminal clamp and terminal contact device indicated generally by the reference number 15. The lower combination device 15 has a pair of floating contact shoes identical to the upper pair of floating contact shoes 11 for engaging the lower wedge-shaped fuse tube contact 7. Also, the lower combination device 15 has a terminal clamp identical to the upper terminal clamp 12 for having another electrical conductor or line lead 16 connected thereto. The lower combination device 15 is similar to the upper combination device eX- cept that it is reversed with respect thereto and has no door latching means. As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, when the door 2 is closed an electrical 0 vcircuit is completed between the line leads 13 and 16 through the upper terminal clamp 12, the upper oating contact shoes 11, the upper fuse tube contact 6, the

fuse link 8, the hinge member 3, the lower fuse tube y contact 7, the floating contact shoes of the lower combination device 15, and the terminal clamp of the lower combination device 15. Said electrical circuit progresses from the hinge member 3 to the lower fuse tube contact 7 by virtue of the fact that lower fuse tube contact 7 is integral with the metallic hinge member 3 or is otherwise electrically connected thereto.

The fuse link 8 has a not shown fusible portion therein disposed within the fuse tube 5. Also, as is well known in the electrical art, the fuse tube 5 has a not shown inner ber liner or the like whereby electrical are extinguishing gases will be generated within the fuse tube 5 when the not shown fusible portion of the fuse link 8 ruptures. The upper end of fuse tube 5 is closed by a cap 17 or the like, and the lower end of the fuse tube 5 is open. When the fuse link 8 ruptures a fuse link flipper arm 18 pivotally connected at its righthand end to the door 2 and spring biased in a counterclockwise direction will extract the lower fused end of the fuse link 8 from within the fuse tube 5 thereby elongating the electrical arc between the' ruptured ends of the fuse link 8. The electrical arc extinguishing gases generated within the fuse tube 5 in response to the electrical arc or the heat thereof will be expelled from the open lower end of the fuse tube 5. Said gaseous expulsion action in combination with elongation of the electrical arc by flipper arm 18 is eiiective to interrupt the electrical arc. Said gaseous expulsion action causes the fuse tube 5 to recoil upwardly. A recoil stop 19 which is part of the upper combination terminal clamp, door latch, and terminal Contact device overlies a portion of the upper fuse tube contact o to resiliently impede upward recoil of the fuse tube 5 beyond a predetermined limited distance.

it will be apparent that to insure proper latching of the door 2 and proper engagement of the oatin'g contact shoes 11 with the upper fuse tube contact 6, it is necessary that the door latch 10 and upper terminal contacts 11 of the upper combination terminal clamp, door latch, and terminal contact device be properly and permanently aligned with respect to each other as well as with respect to the door latching projections 9 and the upper fuse tube contact 6. This is even more true in a dropout cutout of the type disclosed and claimed in my joint copending Patent 2,744,982 iiled August 24, 1953 and issued May 8, 1956, and assigned to the same assignee as the instant patent application. ln a drop out cutout of the type shown in said copending patent the door of the cutout pivots with respect to the fuse tube to automatically unlatch itself from the latching fingers 19 upon rupture of the fuse link whereby the door of the cutout and the fuse tube are automatically dropped to the open position with respect to the cutout housing. The terminal clamp and the combination terminal clamp, door latch, and terminal contact device particularly disclosed and claimed herein are also disclosed in said ccpending patent but are not claimed therein inasmuch as the terminal clamp and the combination terminal clamp, door latch, and terminal contact device is my sole invention. In the dropout type of cutout disclosed and claimed in said copending patent iloating terminal contact shoes disposed with respect to each other in a V-shaped manner or" the type indicated herein by reference numerals 11 permit unlatching of the door and fuse tube upon rupture of the fuse link while still insuring board surface contact engagement between the terminal contacts and the fuse tube contacts. Such type of floating terminal contact means disposed with respect to each other in a V-shaped manner are claimed per se in said copending patent.

My novel terminal clamp and my novel combination clamp, latch, and contact device will now be described. Clnly a detailed description of the upper terminal clamp 12 and the upper combination clamp, latch and contact device illustrated in Figure l will be given inasmuch as it is believed that thereafter the construction of the lower combination terminal and contact device 15 illustrated in Figure l will be obvious. The terminal clamp 12 will be described first per se inasmuch as the terminal clamp 12 can be used alone or in combination with either the door latch 10 and fuse tube recoil stop means 19 or the terminal contacts for engaging the fuse tube contacts or both. After the particular description of the terminal clamp 12, its cooperative relationship and correlation with the door latch 10 and fuse tube recoil stop means 19 and terminal contacts for engaging the fuse tube contacts will be described.

Referring now to Figures l to 5, and more particularly to Figure 4, the upper terminal clamp 12 comprises a clamping shoe metallic retaining plate 2i), a metallic clamping plate 21, and a free iloating clamping shoe 22. The retaining plate 20 has a generally horizontally disposed channel shaped portion and a generally vertically disposed ilange 23 connected generally perpendicular to the lower side wall of the channel shaped portion. The opposite end portions of the channel shaped portion extend laterally beyond the side edges of the ilange 23.

The ange 23 has an aperture 24 formed therein, and the upper side wall of the channel shaped portion has' a pair of apertures 25 formed therein. In the base 26 of the channel shaped portion are formed a pair of internally threaded apertures adapted tc receive a pair of externally threaded members 27.

The clamping plate 21 has an indented or concave portion 28 extending transversely thereof between the side edges thereof. The indented or concave portion 28 is disposed opposite to the channel shaped portion of retaining plate and bulges `away from the channel shaped portion. Formed on the upper edge of the clamping plate 21 are a pair of tabs or nibs 29 adapted to be received by the pair of apertures 25 of the retaining plate 20. The clamping plate 21 is adapted to abut flange 23 of the retaining plate 20 when the pair of tabs 29 are inserted into the apertures 25. The clamping plate 21 has an aperture formed therein aligned with the aperture 24 formed in the flange 23. The aligned apertures 24 and 30 are adapted to receive an externally threaded bolt 31 cooperative with an internally threaded nut 32, or other fastening means, whereby the plates 2t) and 21 are rigidly fastened with respect to each other while the indented portion 28 is fixed with respect to the base 26 of the channel shaped portion in spaced relationship.

Disposed within the channel shaped portion between the indented portion 28 and the base 26 is the free floating clamping shoe 22. The clamping shoe 22 comprises a U-shaped member whose legs first diverge and then converge with respect to each other. Said diverging and then converging legs of the clamping shoe 22 straddle or embrace the opposite end edges or notches 33 of the base 26. The endmost portions or extremities of the legs of the clamping shoe 22 are spaced with respect to each other by a distance less than the distance between the opposite end edges 33 whereby the clamping shoe 22 is retained with respect to the base 26. The other portions of the legs of the U-shaped clamping shoe 22 are spaced with respect to each other by a distance greater than the distance between the end edges 33 whereby the clamping shoe 22 is free floating with respect to the base 26 and the indented portion 28. The portions 34 of the U-shaped clamping shoe 22 disposed between the base portion thereof and the diverging leg portions of the clamping shoe 22 are rounded or curved, and said base portion has a length slightly less than the length of the indented portion 28. VThe opposite end portions 35 of the indented portion 2S of the clamping plate 21 are flared or bulged away from the indented portion 28 and the channel shaped portion of the retaining plate 29. Said flared or bulged end portions 35 are disposed generally opposite to the curved or rounded portions 34 of clamping shoe 22. Each pair of oppositely disposed flared and rounded portions 35 and 34 respectively on opposite sides of the terminal clamp 12 define funnel-like openings or entrances for the electrical conductor 13 as illustrated in Figure 2.

To connect the electrical conductor 13 to the clamp 12 the threaded members 27 are threaded outwardly of the channel shaped portion of retaining plate 2d. The threaded members 27 are unconnected with respect to clamping shoe 22. Accordingly, when the threaded members 27 are threaded outwardly with respect to the channel shaped portion of retaining plate 2G the clamping shoe 22 is not carried by the threaded members 27 away from the indented portion 28. However, regardless of the disn position of the clamping shoe 22 with respect to the indented portion 2S, once the threaded members 27 are withdrawn with respect to the channel shaped portion of the retaining plate 2l) the electrical conductor 13 will readily enter the terminal clamp 12 by virtue of the funnel-like entrances defined by the flared portions 35 and the rounded portions 34 and the free floating nature of the clamping shoe 22. Accordingly, an electrical conductor or line lead can be connected to my terminal clamp with a `minimum number of manual operations. Since the leg portions of clamping shoe 22 extend therefrom vabout the opposite end edges 33 there is no substantial likelihood of electrical conductor 13 being inserted incorrectly into clamp 12 between the clamping shoe 22 and base portion 26 thereof. A lineman working on a pole line or the like from which the enclosed fuse cutout is suspended can conveniently insert the electrical conductor or line lead with one hand through either one of the apertures 14 into the terminal clamp 12. Then with his other hand he can tighten the electrical conductor or line lead in the terminal clamp 12 merely by turning the threaded members 27 tinwardly. No looping of the elec trical conductor about a terminal stud is required as in some of the prior art terminal clamps applicant is acquainted with.

It will be noted that the central portion 36 of the base portion of the U-shaped clamping shoe 22 is bulged or offset slightly towards the indented portion 28. Said bulged central portion 36 of the clamping shoe 22 pro vides a spring follow-up clamping action in the terminal clamp 12. The terminal clamp parts 2l), 21, and 22 preferably yare stamped or punched metallic members. In one actual embodiment of my invention the U-shaped clamping shoe 22 had a thickness of about 1/16 of an inch and the bowed central portion 36 was offset with respect tto the main plane of the base portion ot' the U-shaped member 22 by about 1/{52 of an inch. As illustrated in Figure 2, when the electrical conductor or line lead 13 is clamped in the terminal clamp 12, the threaded merribers 27 will engage opposite end portions of the base portion of U-shaped clamping shoe 22 and flatten the bowed central portion 36 of the base portion of the U- shaped clamping shoe 22. In such flattened condition of the bowed central portion 36 the heretofore bulged central portion 36 will continuously tend to assume its bulge pre-flattened condition thereby providing a spring follow-up clamping action against the electrical conductor or line lead 13. In those instances where the electrical conductor or line lead 13 is constructed. out of aluminum or other similar metal subject to cold flow the tendency of the central portion 36 to assume its bulged offset condition from its flattened condition will provide a spring follow-up action to insure tight clamping of said aluminum electrical conductor or line lead to take up any slack because of cold ow.

The fuse tube recoil stop and door latch means of my combination terminal clamp, door latch, and contact dcvice comprises a fuse tube recoil stop and door latch carrying metallic plate 37. integrally connected to the plate 37 and extending generally perpendicular' therefrom along ythe upper end edge thereof is the stop flange 19. Integrally connected to the plate 37 and protruding generally perpendicular therefrom adjacent the lower end edge of the plate 37 are the pair of spaced latching fingers 10 adapted to engage the spaced insulating material latching projections 9. When the plate 37 is assembled with respect to the terminal clamp 12 the plate 37 will abut the flange 23 and the stop flange 19 will abut the lower side wall of the horizontally disposed channel shaped portion of the plate 2t). Abutment of the stop` flange 19 with respect to the lower side wall of the horizontally disposed channel shaped portion of the plate 2t) positions the stop flange 19 and the latching lingers 1li with respect to the terminal clamp 12. Formed within the plate 37 is an aperture 38 aligned with respect to the apertures 24 and 30 and adapted to receive the fastening means 31. Formed adjacent the lower end of the plate 37 are a pair of transversely extending ledges or shoulders 39 extending laterally beyond the opposite side edges of the plate 37. The width of the plate 37 is less than the transverse dimension of the channel shaped portion of the plate 2l) whereby the opposite end portions 46 of the lower side wall of the channel shaped portion of the plate 20 extend laterally beyond the opposite side edges of the plate 37. As will be more clear hereinafter, the laterally extending ledges 39 and end portions 46 of the lower side wall of the channel shaped portion of the plate 20 serves to position and align the terminal contact parts of my combination clamp, latch, and contact device. Theplate 37 preferably is a relatively thin stamped or punched metallic part whereby the stop flange 19 and latching ngers 10 are resilient to perform their functions of a fuse tube recoil stop and door latching means.

The terminal contact means oi? my combination latch, clamp and contact device comprises a resilient U-shaped metallic spring member 4t) and a plurality of thin ilexible metallic strips 41 carrying the floating Contact shoes 11. As illustrated in Figure 3, the U-shaped member 49 embraces the plate 37 and the ange 23. Also, the p1urality of exible strips 41 are bent into a U-shaped configuration and surround and embrace the U-shaped member 40. The floating contact shoes 11 are connected at one of their ends to the opposite ends of the plurality of ilexible strips 41 and are disposed with respect to each other in a V-shaped manner between the leg portions of the U-shaped member 4th The inner ends of the tloating Contact shoes 11 have tabs or nibs 42 formed thereon adapted to enter apertures 43 formed in the legs of the U-shaped member 49. An aperture 44 is formed in the base portion of the U-shaped member 4t?, and an aperture 45 is formed in the base portion of the U shaped and configured plurality of flexible strips 41. The apertures 44 and 45' are aligned with respect *to the apertures 3S, 24, `and 30 and are adapted to receive the fastening means 31 therethrough. The stop flange 19, the latching iingers 10, the legs of the U-shaped member 4t), and the legs of the U-shaped or configured plurality of flexible strips 41 all protrude in an identical direction away from the channel shaped portion of the plate 20, and the members 46 and 41 and contact shoes 11 are positioned vertically between the stop flange 19 and the latching fingers it?.

As illustrated in Figure 5, the U-shaped member 40 and the Iplurality of flexible strips 41 have a predetermined width whereby when they are placed about the plate 37 and ange 2.3 in embracing relationship the opposite side edges thereof adjacent to the opposite side edges of the plate 37 and iiange 23 will be disposed between the laterally extending ledges 39 and the laterally extending end portions 46 of the lower side wall of the channel shaped portion of the plate Ztl. Accordingly, the ledges 39 and the laterally extending end portions 46 of the lower side wall of the channel-shaped portion of the plate 20 serve to align the parts 46 and 41 with respect to the terminal clamp 12 and the recoil stop 19 and latching fingers 10 of the plate 37. Due to the thickness of the stop ange i' 19, and in order to insure that the stop ange 19 and threaded members 27 do not interfere with the oating contact shoes 11, the laterally extending end portions 46 of the lower side wall of the channel shaped portion'of the plate 2t? are depressed or concaved and are adapted to engage the upper side edges of the parts 49 and 41 adjacent to the side edges of the plate 37 and ange 23.

When the terminal contact parts are assembled with the terminal clamp 12 the clamping plate 21 will be immediately superposed with respect to the plurality of iiexible strips 41. Abutting the rear side of the clamping plate 21 is a U-shaped metallic bracket 47 having the legs thereof extending rearwardly. Formed in the base portion of the U-s'naped bracket 47 is an aperture 48 aligned with respect to the apertures 38, 24, 44, 45, and 39 adapted to receive the fastening means 31 therethrough. Formed in the clamping plate 21 on opposite sides of aperture 3! are a pair of rearwardly projecting bosses or dimples 49 adapted to be received by a pair of apertures 5t) formed in the base portion of the U-shaped bracket 47 on opposite sides of the aperture 48. The bosses 49 and apertures 5t) insure that the combination terminal clamp, door latch, and terminal contact device does not rotate with respect to the U-shaped supporting bracket 47 lafter the supporting bracket 47 is connected to the rear wall of the cutout housing 1. The legs of the U- shaped supporting bracket 47 have apertures 51 formed therein and the supporting bracket 47 is connected to the rear wall of the cutout housing 1 as by cement. As illustrated in Figure 3, the cement will enter the apertures S1 and will partially surround the bolt 31 and nut 32.

It will now be more clear that the clamp, latch, and re coil stop, and terminal contact parts of my invention can be used singularly when so desired. However, if it is desired to use the clamp, latch and recoil stop, and terminal contact parts in combination the parts are so configured and correlated with respect to each other that they are self-aligning with respect to each other to give a low cost, uncomplicated, compact and easily assembled combination clamp, latch and recoil stop, and contact device.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modications may be made without departing from the invention, and therefore it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. An electrical conductor clamp comprising a metallic clamping plate and a clamping shoe metallic retaining plate disposed opposite to each other in xed relationship, said clamping plate having an indented portion extending transversely thereof between opposite side edges thereof,

said retaining plate having a transversely extending channel-shaped portion disposed opposite to said indented portion, said indented portion extending away from the base of said channel-shaped portion, a free tloating clamping Shoe comprising a metallic U-shaped member having a pair of legs first diverging and then converging with respect to each other, the base portion of said U-shaped member disposed within said channel-shaped portion and said legs embracing opposite end edges of said channel-shaped porfrom said indented portion and said U-shaped membery rounded portions to define funnel-like electrical conductor entrances therebetween, and at least one threaded member extending through an aperture formed in said channelshaped portion base unconnected with respect to said clamping shoe for moving said clamping shoe towards said indented portion for clamping an electrical conductor between said clamping shoe and indented portion.

2. A combination clamp and latch comprising a member having a channel-shaped portion having a flange connected generally perpendicular to one of the sides of said channel-shaped portion, a clamping plate having an indented portion disposed opposite to said channel-shaped portion, a U-shaped clamping shoe disposed within said channel-shaped portion, the legs of said U-shaped shoe converging towards each other and embracing opposite end edges of the base of saidY channel-shaped portion, the endmost portions of said legs spaced with respect to each other by a distance less than the distance between said v end edges, a threaded member unconnected with respect to said shoe extending through a threaded aperture formed in said base for moving said contact shoe towards said indented portion, a latch carrying plate having a latching iinger connected thereto, said ange, clamping plate, and a latch carrying plate superposed with respect to each other .and having aligned apertures extending therethrough, and

fastening means extending v'through said aligned aperturesA Aiv/ for connecting said flange, clamping plate, and latch carrying plate with respect to each other.

3. A combination clamp and contact device lcomprising a metallic member having a channel-shaped portion having a tlange connected generally perpendicular to one of the sides lof said channel-shaped portion, `a resilient U-shaped metallic member embracing said flange, at least one flexible metallic strip embracing said U-shaped member, the opposite ends of said strip having a pair of metallic con-tact shoes connected thereto dispose-d opposite to each other between the legs of said U-shaped member, and a clamping plate having an indented portion disposed opposite to said channel-'shaped portion, the base of said U-sh'ap'ed member and the central portion of said s-trip -disposed between said ange and clamping plate; said flange, ba-se, central portion, and clamping plate having aligned apertures therein, fastening means extending through said aligned apertures for fastening said flange, base, central portion, and clamping plate together, a U-shaped clamping shoe disposed within said channelshaped portion having a pair of converging legs embracing opposite end edges of the base od. said channel-shaped portion, only the endmost portions of said legs spaced with respect to each other by a distance less than the distance between .said end edges, and a threaded member unconnected with said contact shoe extending through a threaded aperture in said channel-shaped portion base for moving said U-shaped clamping shoe towards said -indented portion.

4. A combination clamp, latch, and Contact device comprising a metallic member having a channel-shaped portion having a ange connected generally perpendicular to one side of said channel-shaped portion, a latch carrying metallic plate `abutting said one side and flange and having at least one latching finger extending therefrom, the yopposite ends of `said channel-shaped portion extending beyond the opposite side edges of said flange and latch carrying plate, a resilient U-shaped metallic member embracing said ange and latch carrying plate, at least one ilexible metallic strip embracing said U-shaped member, the opposite ends of said strip having Ia pair of metallic contact shoes connected thereto disposed opposite to each other between the legs of said U-shaped member, said channel-shaped portion opposite ends extending beyond adjacent side edges `of said U-shaped member and strip, `a metallic clamping plate having a concave portion disposed `opposite to Said channel-shaped portion abutting said strip, aligned apertures formed in said ilange, lat-ch carrying plate, clamping plate, the base of said U-shaped member, and the central portion of said strip, fastening means extending through -said aligned apertures, a U-shaped metallic clamping shoe disposed within said channel-shaped portion having a pair of legs embracing yopposite end edges of the base of said channel-shaped portion, a threaded member ldisconnected with respect to said U-shaped clamping shoe extending through a threaded aperture in said channel-shaped portion base for moving said clamping shoe towards sai-d indented portion.

5. A combination clamp, latch, and contact device comprising a generally horizontally disposed channelshaped metallic portion having a generally upright metallic ange connected generally perpendicular to one of lthe sides of said channel-shaped portion, a generally upright latch carrying metallic plate having a istop ange connected generally perpendicular to the upper end edge thereof and a latching finger connected generally perpendicular to the lower end edge thereof, said stop flange abutting said one side and said latch carrying plate abutting said upright flange, the end portions of said one side extending laterally beyond the side edges of said upright tiange and latch carrying plate, a pair of laterally extending ledges formed adjacent the lower end of said latch carrying plate extending laterally beyond said side edges, a resilient U-shaped member embracing said upright flange and latch carrying plate, at least one flexible metallic strip embracing said U-shaped member, opposite ends of said strip having metallic contact shoes connected thereto disposed opposite to each other between the legs of said U-shaped member, said contact shoes disposed vertically between said stop flange and latching finger, side edges of said U-shaped member and strip adjacent said upright ilange and latch carrying plate side edges positioned between said laterally extending end portions and ledges, a clamping plate disposed opposite to said channel-shaped portion overlying the central portion of said strip, aligned apertures in said latching carrying plate, upright flange, U-shaped member, strip, and clamping plate, fastening means extending through said aligned apertures, and a clamping shoe disposed within said channel-shaped portion adapted to be moved towards sa-id clamping plate by a threaded member extending through a threaded aperture formed in the base of said channel-shaped portion.

6. An electrical conductor clamp comprising means having two oppositely positioned and spaced members which dene therebetween an elongated electrical conductor receiving space which is open at opposite ends thereof, an elongated clamping shoe disposed in said space and means for clamping an electrical conductor between said shoe and one of said two members, said shoe comprising an elongated strip of resilient material which is bowed at its central portion toward said one member, notches formed in the opposite ends of the other of said two members, opposite ends of said shoe having retaining means which extend therefrom into said notches and which are spaced at their extremities by a distance less than the distance between said notches whereby said shoe is retained with respect to said other member but freely movable between both of said members, and said means for clamping comprising a pair of threaded members which extend through a pair of threaded apertures formed in the opposite ends said other member and which at their inner ends are disposed in abutting but `disconnected relationship with respect to `opposite ends of said shoe.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 441,848 Kemp Dec. 2, 1890 2,115,592 Smith Apr. 26, 1938 2,265,9lli Landmeier Dec. 9, 1941 2,582,267 Moore Jan. 15, 1952 2,602,104 Hubbell et al. July 1, 1952 2,693,585 Mason Nov. 2, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 484,829 Canada July 15, 1952 886,582 France July 5, 1943 

